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Monday, January 11, 2016

HOW SHOULD THE YANKEES FILL UP THE 40 MAN ROSTER?

There are 39 days until pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training! Finally, it is getting closer to the end of a long winter hibernation. It has been another thrifty off season for the Yankees and the Yankees only have thirty eight spots filled....so how do the Yankees fill the last two spots?

Here are some ideas, likely or not:

First, make a big splash with a trade. Yankee nation was not expecting Aroldis Chapman to land in our lap so maybe it could happen! Maybe the Yankees can snag another upgrade to the current roster still. Word is that Ivan Nova is still being shopped, read that HERE. Maybe before Spring Training comes along a team will suddenly need a closer and the Yankees do give up Andrew Miller. Time will tell.

Second, maybe a backup infielder? The Yankees have some good options now but Rob Refsnyder and Greg Bird are likely going to start the season down in AAA, so that leaves another question mark. On days that Didi Gregorius needs a day off we could easily slide Starlin Castro over to fill in. That could let us plug Dustin Ackley in at second base too. But what if that doesn't work? The Yankees need another player that they can plug in here. Maybe they fill a roster spot with another backup infielder.

Third possibility....another reliever. It's no secret that the Yankees starting rotation is a big question mark. They need to stay healthy and pitch deep into games. Since we can't bet on this it wouldn't hurt to add another bullpen arm, besides you can never have too many right? The only guaranteed arms at this point are Chapman, Miller and Dellin Betances so if the Yankees could get another long relief guy that would be even better.

Fourth, how about a right handed power hitter? Wishful thinking perhaps, but the Yankees could use it. Mark Teixeira isn't going to hit right handed all of the time, and we could use some more pop. In an ideal world, it would be nice to have an outfielder with that kind of pop, but I won't be that picky. It's been awhile since the Yankees have had some good outfield pop.

It will be interesting to see how the Yankees continue to fill the 40-man roster. With so many uncertainties the Yankees will have to fill the remaining spots strategically because filling these key areas will be key to getting back to winning the division and getting deep into the playoffs. I know I am getting excited, are you?